On Wednesday and Thursday next week, the two biggest unions in the public sector will hold national strikes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland over the latest Local Government pay offer. This is over a below inflation rate offer of only 2.45% being made by the employers. Inflation is up by 4.3%, Food is up 6%, transport 7%, mortgages 8%, electricity and gas 15%. 2.45%? It does not add up. Pay in the private sector is rising by 4%. Some 600,000 UNISON workers are due to go on strike.  Most Town hall services and many schools will be closed.

A good news story, this.

Just a quick report about the last day of UNISON NDC conference. 

Yesterday afternoon we spent nearly 2 hours discussing (motion 63) on whether or not we should review UNISON’s link with the Labour Party. I am very glad to report that after a somewhat “heated” debate, Conference decided in a card vote by a clear majority not to review the principle of a constitutional link.

Deputy General Secretary, Keith Sonnet, gave a blinding speech, the best I have ever seen him, tearing into the Socialist Party (SPEW) who had moved the motion and exposing their true aim of wanting to divert union money into their fantasy “Workers Party”. There were so many delegates queuing up to speak against any review that they had to stand up to wait their turn.

I was really pleased with the result and very proud of UNISON delegates.

This is not to let the Labour Government off the hook.

To be fair (I am a bit jaded and partisan at the moment) there were a number of fairly mainstream delegates during the week who had been rightly very critical about Labour government policies.

At the risk of being a little bit patronising I felt that the union demonstrated once again its political maturity today by realising that even considering disaffiliation is an own goal. It would be an empty gesture. The Labour government knows that turkeys after all do not vote for Christmas. There is no alternative to the Labour Party for all its faults. Standing on the outside trying to shout in is a waste of oxygen. There is no use us pretending otherwise.

The real issue today is that at this moment, it appears that Labour is failing to deliver. What it is failing to deliver on is its raison d’être for the Labour movement, which is to defeat the Tories. My fear and that of many delegates is that of another 18 years of Tory misrule, not pointless betrayal politics.

Following the launch of the pamphlet Machines, markets and morals: the new politics of a democratic NHS we can announce a major debate in the House of Commons at 6pm on Thursday 28 February with Compass Chair Neal Lawson, Professor Julian Le Grand, UNISON's Head of Health Karen Jennings, Anna Coote from the Healthcare Commission and chaired by The Observer's Mary Riddell.

A senior trade union leader today called on the Government to put collaboration not consumerism at the heart of public service reform. Writing exclusively in “Participation Nation: The Challenge of Reconnection” Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, urges the government to drop market reform proposals in favour of a participatory approach to public service delivery. Speaking ahead of the launch of the pamphlet he said:

"The government should adopt a new strategy for public service reform - one based on real democratic participation instead of top-down targets and competitive markets. People shouldn't have to make a false choice between private firms that just want to cut costs and increase profits for their shareholders. Our public services must be genuinely accountable to the communities they serve, and staff and users should work together to find the best ways of improving them. But if this is going to work, the government has to listen to what communities are calling for and invest in the workforce that can help to make it happen. Otherwise all the talk about 'empowerment' and 'involvement' will only lead to more cynicism and disillusionment."

 
 

Just seen copy of the UNISON Press release about the overwhelming majority in favour of accepting the deal on the local government pension scheme negotiated by UNISON and the other local trade unions. Such a massive majority is almost embarrassing. This was also despite (patchy) attempts by some in the ultra left to campaign against acceptance.

Rushanara Ali, the Labour Party prospective parliamentary candidate for Bethnal Green & Bow (BG&B) was the guest speaker at our Tower Hamlets branch UNISON Labour Link meeting. Cuckoo George Galloway, has “promised” not to stand in BG&B at the next election since he knows he will lose.

The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority meets today to decide whether to reject Ken Livingstone's call for a London Living Wage for the lowest paid public sector workers. I attended a demo outside the LFEPA offices and spoke to a UNISON rep there.

This year’s annual NationalDelegate Conference (NDC) is in Brighton. It starts 10am on Tuesday, 19 June, and lasts until Friday afternoon. It is the union's ruling body and decides upon campaign priorities and policies.

To anyone who hasn’t been before I would recommend clicking onto the UNISON website and watch the short video of last year’s NDC at Bournemouth. The NDC is huge, you don’t realise how big an organisation UNISON is until you go to conference and see how widespread geographically the membership is. You’ll hear accents from all over the British Isles (and much further afield).

Last night I went to the launch of the TUC online network of “Pension Champions” at Congress House. The aim is to train and support volunteers to deliver advice and information on pensions to their workplace colleagues. They will be supported by a new website and on-line “pension doctor”.

On Saturday I went to South East Region TUC International conference, held at Congress House, London. Finally, in this age of “globalisation it appears that the trade union movement is starting to wake up about “international issues”. Not just NGO and single issue “pressure group” concerns, but the recognition that mainstream trade unions need to think and act outside narrow national boundaries. In many ways it complimented the "Union Ideas Network" meeting that I went to last month. Many of the same issues were discussed and debated. A running theme of the conference is that “Internationalism” is not just an excuse for a “jolly” abroad of trade union worthies, but should be a core activity.

Tony Benn kicked off the conference talking about “Global Solidarity and the Labour Movement”.

I'm furious. Absolutely. Bloody.Furious. UNISON Labour Link has just announced it will be backing the Dear Leader and Alan Johnson for the Deputy Leadership.
UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis and some equally furious NHS workers protested at last year's Labour Party Conference. I was there. NHS workers were angry at the privatisation of NHS Logistics. They were angry at privatisation and PFI. They have campaigned tirelessly against marketisation and pay cuts

Excuse the probably sexist pun – Last night there was the second event organised by West Ham CLP (sponsored by London UNISON Labour Link) in Stratford to meet Deputy Leadership candidates. Last Wednesday we had Hilary, Jon and Harriet. Tonight it was the turn of Alan, Peter and Hazel. See picture of Hazel with local MP Lyn Brown MP and Rushanara Ali, the new Labour Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Bethnal Green & Bow (to take on Galloway’s)

Quick post on the email no doubt many of us received today from Peter Watt, the Labour Party General Secretary, urging us to encourage Labour Party supporters to join the Party by June 1 and still get a vote for the Labour Party Leadership and Deputy Leadership. By co-incidence, I spoke today to a GMB steward who lives in West Ham (my CLP). I asked him if he was a member of the Party. He said no, he gave some reasons why – including the cost! When I told him that trade union members can pay £1 per month he was astonished and said he would consider joining.

This is edited version of a post on my own site.  What I thought Labourhome may be interested in is how the Party should respond to this version of "Community Politics".  Strangers into Citizens is the latest campaign by the London Citizens (LC) which is an alliance of community and faith groups in London (and a sister organisation in Birmingham).    The aim is to find a "Pathway into citizenship for long-term migrants who have made new lives in the UK".  To-day was a national day of action.  There was a mass at Westminster Cathedral led by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor (head of the Roman Catholic Church in Britain).  Followed by a "Walk" (March) from the Cathedral to Trafalgar Square.  At Trafalgar Square there was a rally.  The Cathedral was packed, standing room only.  London citizens certainly know how to attract people to attend their campaigns.  

Last night after the march I went to the annual trade union, May Day reception, laid on by London Mayor, Ken Livingston, at City Hall, SE1. It was held in the "London Living Room" which is on the 9th floor of City Hall. It has brilliant views over central London and the Thames. There is an open air balcony and you can see for miles.

The place was packed (200 odd?) with the great and good of TIGMOO. Ken lived up to his reputation of being a good host, lots of lovely grub and a drink or two. There was a good presence from London UNISON (See picture with TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber).

Ken gave a speech first. Concentrating about the London Assembly elections next year (2008), the threat from the BNP and the lies that they tell (e.g. during the local council elections last year in Barking, the BNP spread the lie that Ken was giving £50,000 to every African who wanted to move to that area). He made a good point that there is a lot of cynicism amongst the public about what "politicians" say (I would agree to a point). However, many people will trust what their trade union and shop steward says. So if the union tells its members, don't believe the rubbish that the fascists are putting out, members are more likely to pay attention. I think this is largely true.

Brendan gave a thought provoking speech about the role of trade unions and the way we have to adapt to our modern day society. Which I suppose was a lead to Tony Woodley, Joint Secretary of the brand new union UNITE which was born on May 1. UNITE merges the Transport & General (whom I use to be a member and shop steward) and Amicus (who I also use to be a member). UNITE is now probably the biggest trade union in the UK. Tony is a fluent and natural speaker. I could see in him now as the former convenor in Vauxhall's car plant, Ellesmere Port. It was interesting that he expressed regret that Ken was no longer a MP, since he would have has his support as a candidate to be the Labour Leader! Ken's face beamed unabashed. However, I am certain he must play the game "what if" from time to time (don't we all).

Due to UNITE, there are various rumours about what UNISON and the GMB will do in response. I teased the GMB Tower Hamlets branch secretary yesterday that UNISON and the GMB were about to merge. He replied "never in my life time, never in my life time!" He's like me, a young chap (okay, okay - mid 40's is now young). Maybe so. However, I do not expect there to be a stand alone "GMB" or "UNISON" in 5 years time. We live in interesting times. Why can't we have single industry/service unions?

All in all, an excellent end to an excellent day. Tomorrow morning (taken day off), I am off with a car load of East London comrades to Thurrock, Essex to help out in the election. Good practice, since the BNP are fighting all their seats.

Good luck to all Labour candidates tomorrow.

There was an air of cheerful, colourful, chaos, when I arrived, which pretty much continued for the whole march and rally. Lots of bright red banners, flags, music playing and "interesting" placards and numerous leaflets. I would say that a majority of marchers (I think there was only several hundred) were not British trade unionists, but supporting either home grown Marxist organisations or foreign Marxist groups. Particularly well organised, were the various Turkish and Kurdish groups. It was interesting to see a number of banners with pictures of Stalin and Mao on them ! The anarchists were there with their red and black flags, wearing their scarves around their face. They did however look very, very young (probably a sign of my age) and were very polite and well spoken, if you accidentally bumped into them.

Today was also the birthday of the brand new trade union "Unity" (T&G have merged with Amicus).

The setting off point is at Clarkenwell Green, London EC1 (which of course is nowadays not "green", it's completely paved over). Apparently I have got a bit of a tan after today! The sun was certainly shining. But it also could have been wind burn. Our UNISON banner nearly snapped a couple of times during the March.

I could only see Tower Hamlets Local Government (my branch) and Walthamstow Local Government UNISON branches and no Labour Party banners. This is a shame. Next year I will see if we can have a West Ham CLP delegation. However, there where a number of UNISON members milling about.

I couldn't stay for the rally. So perhaps someone else will report on it. I must admit I enjoyed the experience but was not really surprised at the relative low turnout of British trade unionists and Labour Party branches/organisations. I think this is linked.